It's that time of year again – IHRSA, the big fitness equipment show starts on Tuesday next week March 22nd and 23rd. This year the expo is in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center. Sweet for me as it's an easy 90 minute drive from my new home in Tampa 🙂
Last year all the buzz was centered on the new Stages SC3 – which was a total surprise to me when I saw it. The buzz IMO was well deserved after I had the chance to ride it multiple times during the show. You can read my review here.
Monday afternoon I'm meeting with Josh Leve with AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) along with the other advisory board members. AFS is really catching on with studio owners and I'm looking forward to helping them become more beneficial to all of the new studios popping up across the USA.
Not having a crystal ball to peer into, I reached out to my friends at the various brands, asking for a heads-up on what I can look forward to seeing this year. Here's their responses:
RealRyder has added POWER!
Last year Adam Reid hinted that they were working at adding POWER indication to their Indoor Cycle. What they're calling WATTPRO1 is a pedal crank arm power meter – I can't tell if it's just one, or both arms… I'll let you know next week. Jackie Mendes who's a Director at RealRyder® International LLC added the following:
The same company that evolved the traditional stationary indoor cycle design by introducing the first and only multi-planar indoor riding experience now offers a new standard in indoor cycle power measurement–introducing the RealRyder® WattPRO1. This revolutionary direct power measurement technology provides our customers with the most accurate and reliable power data available on the market. The RealRyder WattPro1 is now available to elite athletes training indoors, or anyone seeking to gain a training advantage in their group cycling classes.
I can't wait to ride it + learn from Adam and Douglas Brooks what education they have planned. I'm also curious to find out if existing RealRyder cycles can be retrofitted with power?
Free Epic Planet Virtual Ride DVDs!
Be sure to stop by the Stages Booth when you're there at IHRSA. Allen Jones from Epic Planet supplied me with a few hundred DVDs that Dennis Mellon will be giving away during the show.
Join me Wednesday morning for a Stages early workout. You can reserve a bike here – I'm slotted for the 7:00 class. Stages will be demonstrating a display training system called VISMOX. I don't know anything more it, but plan to 🙂
I'm hearing more about Fitmetrix – the display training system that's also a complete backend solution for managing an Indoor Cycling Studio. Is it a worthy competitor to Mindbody? I plan to find out.
Core Health and Fitness AKA Star Trac and Schwinn Indoor Cycles
Core Health and Fitness will be featuring our Schwinn line up of bikes and the Echelon2 consoles. We will have Performance IQ in our booth demonstrating the connectivity with the Schwinn Echelon2. We're also excited to have Schwinn Master trainers Jeffrey Scott and Markus Mengert in our booth doing demo classes during the early morning workout and during the show.
Core Health and Fitness will also be showing our new line of Star Trac Studio bikes. The Studio Series bikes–built upon Star Trac’s heritage as one of the first and best manufacturers of indoor group cycling bikes–consists of three new models of bikes with improved looks, improved features, and a lower price point than our previous offerings in this space.
Performance IQ says:
At IHRSA, we’re introducing a new version of the PIQ software which is has additional modes, new functionalities and include different display theme options. We’ll also showcase our integration with different apps. You can find one of us in the Stages and Schwinn booth.
Not to forget my friends at Keiser – Darrin Pelkey supplied the following.
John
We are introducing some new accessories to our bikes. A new pedal, New Tablet holder and new stretch pads. I asked marketing and they would rather give detailed information and images after the show. I hope that works and I hope things are going well!!
My guess is that there will be other surprises and I'll be reporting on what I see/find/experience later next week.
There's a new option for prospective Indoor Cycling Studio Owners to consider – purchasing a franchise license from a proven & profitable studio vs. creating a new business from scratch.
Studio owner Paul Harmeling with Full Psycle Indoor Cycling joins me to discuss the details of their new cycling studio franchise offering. I've really enjoyed the classes I've taken at his studios in Los Angles and Chicago – primarily because of how effectively those classes combined a non-traditional format, with solid performance based metrics.
Listen as Paul explains both the costs and benefits of starting and owning a Full Psycle Indoor Cycling Studio franchise – or the option for you to possibly re-brand an underperforming studio.
Paul is hosting a “discovery day” on March 23rd and 24th at his studios in LA for prospective Full Psycle franchisees. They'll be presenting the business opportunity, touring two of their studios and answering all of your questions. Please use the form below to pre-register.
We've got another election year here in the USA. Based on what I see on my Facebook feed, I get the sense that there's a few Instructors* out there that might be thinking, OH GOODY! I've got a captive group of people riding in front of me. My “peeps” see me as a leader. It's my job to “educate” them so they vote properly!
It's my belief that there's nothing better at destroying your class' sense of unity, than injecting politics.
So if you're tempted to sit there front/center and extol the virtues of some candidate (or criticise another) during a recovery, might I suggest that you consider these five reasons why you shouldn't?
#5 It's unprofessional behavior.
You're paid as an Instructor to conduct a cycling or fitness class – not to convert people politically as a political pundit. A true Fitness Professional would never discuss politics during the course of conducting their class. They understand exactly their role in the studio and understand politics isn't in their job description.
How would you feel if your doctor, accountant, mechanic, hair stylist, or other Professional (whom you're paying for a service) began to lecture you about the evils of a particular politician? One you happen to admire and plan to vote for this fall?
Fitness Professionals also understand that they represent the club or studio where they teach. As a representative, anything you say or do could reflect poorly on the business. So just don't go there.
As the owner or manager of an Indoor Cycling Studio, do you think that a friendly preemptive reminder to all of your employees might be helpful?
#4 It's disrespectful to your riders.
People are inundated by politics near constantly during election season. Unless you go completely off-grid, you really can't avoid the constant poll results, he said/she said breathlessly reported ad nauseam on TV, radio and the Internet.
At some level, most (if not all) of your riders participate in your class as an escape from the real world. Don't ruin their hour of aerobic bliss, by mouthing off about income inequality, social security, pipelines or other non-sense. Your class has no interest in hearing it and you'll only wreck their workout… and probably not see them again 🙁
#3 You'll instantly alienate half your class when you open your mouth.
The US is politically split approximately 50/50 between Republicans and Democrats. So it defies explanation why any rational* person would purposely choose to insult the political beliefs of 50% of their class, by publicly taking one political position over another. Seriously, why would you ever do that?
OK, I realise that there are some who couldn't care less who they alienate by mindlessly parroting what they've heard or read – please show your Professional independence by not being one of them 🙂
#2 They'll “unfriend” you.
I'm not specifically referring to unfriending someone on Facebook, although I guess I could be. I'm certainly not against dumping a FB “friend” who's frequently posting stupid stuff about politics. What I'm referring to is the damage you can do to a relationship by needlessly introducing conflict .
Think about the last you were lectured by a friend or acquaintance about something you disagreed with. How did it make you feel? Did you leave feeling like you'd be excited to talk with him or her again?
#1 I'm not stupid, nor am I uninformed or uneducated, so don't treat me like I am.
My number one reason why you should leave politics out of your class; it's insulting and demeaning to lecture other adults about pretty much anything, especially things political. There a very good reason that you, yourself, have felt insulted when this happens. You're being told (no matter how nicely) that if you disagree, you're simply wrong … and they're right.
But it isn't just that you are mistaken, like you turned left, when you should have veered right. No, you feel insulted because the act of lecturing is about power. The lecturer has asserted a position of dominance over you, attempting to make you feel small. How do you respond in a situation like this? Does it make you feel valued and/or respected?
But what if a participant brings up politics first?
Refer to #1, regardless of you're in agreement or not.
I have to compliment the personal trainer of the boot camp I was at this past Saturday. One participant made a number of political comments, that he initially ignored. Sensing the guy wasn't getting the hint, he said very politely; “this is a politics free zone” – smiled and disengaged from the conversation. That was all it took.
*This might not describe you… however you probably know a few Instructors who it does. Please feel free to share this article with them, before they irreparably damage their relationship with their participants.
Some years ago (1997 to be exact), the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured an article stating that women’s protein needs had been underestimated up until then.
In the same issue, a different article discussed the higher rate of serotonin turnover in women’s brains versus that of men. (Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.) So women need protein for that reason.
The same year, Smith et al. published a study in the Lancet describing the relapse of depression in susceptible women after rapid depletion of tryptophan.
It’s a long-held theory of mine that people who minimize the importance of dietary protein don’t recognize the need for what I call “brain protein.” And it turns out that protein is now being evaluated and declared important for several other reasons, some of them of specific concern to women — weight loss, satiety, lean body mass, athletic performance, and more.
– In 2012, adult protein requirements were assessed as 10% higher than previously assessed, for both men and women and all age groups (Millward, 2012).
– A 12-week weight loss study in overweight adults showed that higher protein intake promoted better retention of lean body mass in both trunk and legs (Tang et al., 2013).
– Maintaining adequate protein intake with aging may help preserve muscle mass and strength in adult men and women. Type of dietary protein may affect muscle mass and strength differently. Animal protein promoted higher lean leg mass with higher intake, while plant protein did not (Sahni et al., 2015).
– Older women in the higher protein group (1.1g/kg/day vs. 0.8g/kg/day) had lower body mass index and lower fat-to-lean ratio than those in the lower protein group. The lower protein diet also resulted in impaired strength in both upper and lower extremities (Gregorio et al., 2014).
– Even distribution of protein intake — approximately 30g of protein per meal — stimulated muscle protein synthesis more effectively than the typical pattern of skewing protein toward the evening meal, with a breakfast higher in carbs and lower in protein (Mamerow et al., 2014).
– A recent seminar on protein’s role in weight loss and satiety, offered by the American Council on Exercise, also recommended a protein pattern of 30 grams per meal, 3 times a day.
– Two studies indicated a need for increased dietary protein intake so that the so-called “nutritionally non-essential amino acids” would be adequate for animals and humans to achieve optimal growth, reproduction and resistance to metabolic and infectious diseases (Hou et al, 2015; Wu et al, 2013). Essential amino acids are ones that are not synthesized by the body and must be consumed in food. Non-essential amino acids were traditionally assumed to be adequately synthesized by the body for maximal growth and health. These 2 studies counter that assumption.
– Female football players have protein needs similar to those of male players (Maughan and Shirreff, 2007).
– Women strength athletes may require more protein than either endurance-trained or sedentary women. The recommendations are for less emphasis on high-carb intake and more emphasis on quality protein and fat consumption to enhance training adaptations and general health (Volek et al, 2006). Compared to men, women seem to be less reliant on glycogen during exercise and less responsive to carb-mediated glycogen synthesis during recovery.
– Minimum protein intakes should be approximately 25% of total calorie intake (Fulgoni 2008). Many adults, men and women, get only 15% of their energy intake from protein.
– In a 12-week study, a daily high-protein (35g)breakfast prevented gains in body fat. A “normal” protein breakfast did not. The high-protein breakfast reduced hunger and led to voluntary reductions of about 400 calories per day (Leidy, et al 2015).
Regarding the long-touted RDA of 0.8g protein/kg/day, Stewart Phillips, PhD, FACSM, FACN, and professor at McMaster University states, “nothing about that level should be recommended, and you’re allowed to eat much more. In fact, for older persons and athletes, there are benefits to consuming protein at levels above the RDA.”
Indoor cycling instructors are athletes, and regular participants may be, as well.
I can't remember ever talking to a new studio owner, who didn't express the dream to open & own a second… and possibly a third studio once their first was established.
Which raises an interesting question…
When is the right time to open a 2nd studio? And should you?
Studio Owner Nancy Katinas owns The Revolution, a pair of Indoor Cycling studios in upstate New York. She joins me to share her thoughts and experiences about how she and her partners built their first profitable studio. And then opened a second a few years later.
What about Instructor exclusivity? Dennis Mellon share his thoughts from the Instructor's perspective last week. Be sure to catch Nancy's explanation of her studio's policy – one that I found pretty gutsy as it takes a bunch of confidence to pull off.
If you're interested in learning about franchising options for opening an indoor cycling studio – we have a podcast you should listen to here.
Great stuff here for any current (or future) studio owners!
As you hear in the interview, despite not having Indoor Cycles with power indication, Nancy is a fan of Performance IQ – she's using PIQ's heart rate display training system with great success. Here's a few of her participants sharing their thoughts.
Looking back, I suppose it’s understandable that it took me 3 appointments to figure out what was going on with my client.
First and perhaps foremost, this client, whom we’ll call John, was a cyclist.
John came in for his appointment in rather odd clothes, but that’s hardly noteworthy in the California bay area. He wanted to lose weight.
John was already thin. Still, his desire to lose weight didn’t seem noteworthy, either. In my experience, cyclists often try to lose weight to give them an advantage on the road, particularly on hills. Many cycling routes in California are known for the tough climbs they present.
The leaner a cyclist can become — particularly if he or she can maintain strength and power — the faster he can climb those hills.
Typically, my clients who are athletes (of any type) are interested primarily in results. They welcome suggestions and recommendations that will help them get those results. That tends to be true even if my recommendations seem contrary to what they’ve heard elsewhere.
What set John apart from other athletes was his reluctance to do anything I asked him to do nutritionally.
My recommendations for John were nothing out of the ordinary. They all had to do with ensuring that he was properly fueled for both his training rides and his events. In order to keep his energy at peak levels and limit the loss of lean mass, I suggested making his weight loss gradual and carefully trimming calories from the non-ride portions of his day — and certainly not from his pre-ride meals, his on-the-bike fueling, or his immediate post-ride refueling. That fuel was too critical in his continued performance and power.
But John wanted to cut calories from all of those “fueling moments,” as well as the rest of the day. He didn’t want to do it gradually or carefully.
So we had 3 appointments of food log reviews, more questions, and John’s somewhat odd answers. In his third appointment, he requested supplements to speed up his weight loss, and it was clear that he was an anorexic.
First, he didn’t fit the demographic. Only about 0.1% of anorexics are men.
And, again, he was a cyclist, so the desire to lose weight wasn’t a red flag.
I don’t work with anorexics because I’ve found that there are psychological issues involved that are beyond my area of expertise and beyond the scope of my practice.
Since I don’t feel qualified to deal with the issues of anorexia, I refer clients to those who are.
This post doesn’t end with a final set of suggestions or food recommendations, other than to point out that it’s sometimes necessary to look beyond the obvious when dealing with clients. Each one is unique.
